Author Archives: Al Myers

Hand & Thigh Club

by Al Myers

Only three USAWA members have lifted over 1500 pounds in the Hand and Thigh in official competition. (left to right): Joe Garcia, Frank Ciavattone, and Al Myers

After posting that picture last week of Joe Garcia and his 1400# Hand and Thigh Lift at the 2011 Heavy Lift Nationals, I got to thinking.  Just how many USAWA lifters have  lifted over 1400 pounds in the Hand and Thigh in official competition?  I have seen Joe lift over 1400 several times myself, so to me that is not an unusual or rare thing to see that much weight lifted in the Hand and Thigh.  But then again, Joe is the MASTER of the Hand and Thigh (WR and All-Time Record holder with a lift of 1910 pounds) and without a doubt more times over 1400 than any other lifter ever.  This “mark” of 1400 pounds seems like the “goal of excellence” in the H&T, and I “guessed” beforehand that probably not over a dozen USAWA lifters had ever achieved it. However, after I did my research I found the list much shorter than this, with only three lifters over 1500 pounds, and another 5 lifters over 1400 pounds.  Only one IAWA(UK) lifter has exceeded the 1400# mark, and that was Steve Angell with his H&T lift of 1500 pounds at the 1995 World Championships. 

USAWA Lifters in the 1400 H&T Club

Rank Lifter Age BWT Pounds Event
1 Joe Garcia 43 240 1910 1997 Zercher
2 Frank Ciavattone  40  260 1610 1995 NE Strongest Man
3 Al Myers 43 251 1505 2010 Deanna
4 Eric Todd 27 261 1475 2002 Deanna
5 Jim Malloy 53 244 1400 1995  Worlds
6 John Carter 38 225 1400 1996 Zercher
7 Steve Schmidt 49 220 1400 2004 Backbreaker
8 Sam Huff 23 266 1400 2005 Deanna

Ledaig Record Breaker

BY DAVE GLASGOW

LEDAIG HEAVY ATHLETICS WEEKEND AND RECORD BREAKER DAY

Group picture of participants in the 2011 Ledaig Record Breakers. (front left to right): Amber Glasgow, Molly Myers, Mike Murdock (back left to right): Dave Glasgow, Al Myers, Thom Van Vleck, Chad Ullom

SUNDAY, 31 JULY-2011 SAW SEVEN STRENGTH AFICIONADOS CONVERGE ON THE GLASGOW HOMESTEAD TO TEST THEIR ENDURANCE AGAINST THE WEIGHTS, AS WELL AS THE HEAT.  THIS RECORD BREAKERS DAY HAS BECOME KNOWN AS THE ANNUAL “SWEAT FEST” FOR GOOD REASON.  TEMPERATURES IN JULY CAN BE BRUTAL IN SOUTHERN KANSAS AND THIS DAY WAS NO DIFFERENT.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT FOUR OF THESE ATHLETES PARTICIPATED IN THE LEDAIG HIGHLAND GAMES THE DAY PRIOR.  NINE EVENTS IN LESS THAN SEVEN HOURS DRAINED A LOT OF ENERGY BUT NOT WILLPOWER FROM THOSE THAT WERE ‘DOUBLE DIPPING’.   AT 71 YEARS OLD, MIKE MURDOCK, WHO IS A STAPLE AT THE LEDAIG FACILITY, IS THE OLDEST OF OUR PARTICIPANTS.  YOU KNOW HE HAD TO HAVE SLEPT WELL THAT NIGHT!!   CHAD ULLOM, THOM VAN VLECK AND AMBER GLASGOW WERE THE OTHERS WHO SAW ACTION BOTH DAYS.  BELIEVE ME, IT’S TAKES SOMETHING EXTRA TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF TO DO THIS EVENT BOTH DAYS.  ROUNDING OUT THE CROWD WERE AL AND MOLLY MYERS, AS WELL AS EVENT COORDINATOR, DAVE GLASGOW.

FOLLOWING ARE THE TOTAL RECORDS BROKEN BY THE COMBATANTS:

                        AL MYERS  – 9
                        AMBER GLASGOW  – 8
                        CHAD ULLOM – 6
                        MOLLY MYERS  – 6
                        MIKE MURDOCK  – 5
                        THOM VAN VLECK  – 4
                        DAVE GLASGOW – 3

                        TOTAL  RECORDS – 41

GRACIOUS HOSTS ‘UNC’ KENNY GLASGOW AND AUNT JO GLASGOW PROVIDED THE VENUE AS WELL AS A FINE MEAL FOLLOWING THE EVENT.  WE WERE TREATED TO ANOTHER PULLED PORK LUNCH WITH ALL THE FIXIN’S AND GIVEN HONORED SEATS AT THE MAIN TABLE.  THIS WAS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED BY ALL PARTICIPANTS!!

WE WILL DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.  PLAN FOR IT IN JULY!!   AFTER ALL, IT WOULDN’T BE THE ‘SWEAT FEST’, WERE IT NOT IN JULY!!

SLAINTE!

MEET RESULTS

Meet Director:  Dave Glasgow, and the Ledaig Heavy Athletics Club
Lifts: Record Day
Date:  July 31st, 2011
Location:  Rainbow Bend, Kansas

Officials (3 official used): Al Myers, Chad Ullom, Mike Murdock, Thom Van Vleck, Dave Glasgow

Molly Myers – Age 12, BWT 156 pounds
(Womens 12-13 Age Group, 75 KG Weight Class)

Deadlift – 12″ Base:  135#
Deadlift – Heels Together: 135#
Deadlift – Ciavattone Grip: 135#
Deadlift – Dumbbell, Right Arm: 75#
Deadlift – Dumbbell, Left Arm: 75#
Deadlift – 2 Dumbbells: 150#

Amber Glasgow – Age 32, BWT 141 pounds
(Womens 20-39 Age Group, 65 KG Weight Class)

Curl – Strict: 50#
Two Hands Anyhow: 70#
Press – From Rack: 70#
Curl – Dumbbell, Cheat, Right Arm: 35#
Curl – Dumbbell, Cheat, Left Arm: 35#
Gardner – Half: 45#
Deadlift – No Thumb, Right Arm: 95#
Deadlift – No Thumb, Left Arm: 85#

Chad Ullom – Age 39, BWT 250 pounds
(Mens 20-39 Age Group, 115 KG Weight Class)

Curl – Dumbbell, Cheat, Left Arm: 105#
Curl – Dumbbell, Cheat, Right Arm: 105#
Gardner – Half: 105#
Snatch – On Knees: 135#
Arthur Lift: 265#
Hack Lift – Left Arm: 200#

Al Myers – Age 44, BWT 253 pounds
(Mens 40-44 Age Group, 115 KG Weight Class)

Deadlift – Fulton Dumbbell, Right Arm: 165#
Deadlift – Fulton Dumbbell, Left Arm:  155#
Deadlift – 2 Fulton Dumbbells: 290#
Clean and Jerk – 2 Dumbbells: 150#
Clean and Jerk – Dumbbell, Left Arm: 100#
Clean and Jerk – Dumbbell, Right Arm: 120#
Snatch – 2 Dumbbells: 150#
Zercher – Left Arm: 200#
Zercher – Right Arm: 200#

Thom Van Vleck – Age 47, BWT 296 pounds
(Mens 45-49 Age Group, 125+ KG Weight Class)

Snatch – Left Arm: 115#
Snatch – Rigth Arm: 115#
Deadlift – Stiff Legged: 300#
Continental to Belt: 375#

Dave Glasgow – Age 58, BWT 249 pounds
(Mens 55-59 Age Group, 115 KG Weight Class)

Deadlift – Left Arm: 185#
Snatch – Dumbbell, Left Arm: 95#
Deadlift – 2 Bars: 370#

Mike Murdock – Age 71, BWT 231 pounds
(Mens 70-74 Age Group, 105 KG Weight Class)

Bent Over Row: 185#
Rectangular Fix: 75#
Reflex  Clean and Push Press: 105#
Crucifix: 60#
Squat – Front: 155#

New England RB Day

by Frank Ciavattone

MEET ANNOUNCEMENT
NEW ENGLAND RECORD BREAKER DAY

This meet will be held at my home, which is also the home of Frank’s Barbell Club.  Entry fee is free and weigh in will be from 9am-10am, with the meet starting at 11 am.  Medals will be given to all competitors, and the meet will be followed by a cookout and refreshments.  All lifters must be 2011 USAWA members.  This should be a fun, old-fashioned New England USAWA record day, with records and fun as the main goal.  If anyone needs more information, feel free to call or email me. 

Meet Director:  Frank Ciavattone Jr.

Location:  Frank’s Barbell Club
         204 East Street
                                   Walpole, Massachusetts, 02032

Date:    Sunday, August 14th, 2011

Entry form and fees:   None

Sanction:  USAWA, must be a current member to participate

Contact:   phone: (508)-668-5200
                               email:  fcsnowblizzard78@aol.com

WAYNE SMITH ENCOUNTER

BY DAVE GLASGOW

WAYNE SMITH IS THE AGELESS WONDER! THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT IS WAYNE IN 1956, AND THE THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT IS WAYNE IN FRONT OF THE SAME OAK TREE IN 1998!

WE ALL HAVE HAD OUR “DUMBASS” MOMENTS.  I, FOR ONE, SEEM TO HAVE A PENCHANT FOR THEM!  MY LATEST ‘FAUX PAS’ WAS IN KIRKSVILLE AT THE USAWA NATIONALS.  HOWEVER, A LITTLE BACKGROUND IS IN ORDER BEFORE I GO MUCH FURTHER.

I HAVE A BACK ROUND IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.  I HAD A TOTAL OF 18 ½ YEARS SERVICE TO A SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AND THEN AT THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS A RESERVE.  WITH THAT SERVICE CAME LOTS OF TRAINING.  A POINT THAT WAS EMPHASIZED TO US WAS TO BE ‘AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS’ AND ‘LOOK FOR THE UNUSUAL OR SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF PLACE’.  I ALWAYS FELT THAT, FOR AN ‘ALMOST COP’, I WAS PRETTY GOOD AT IT.  THIS ONE TRAIT, THAT I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD OF, IS WHAT BRINGS US BACK TO THE STORY AT HAND.

AT THE NATIONALS, THE WARM UP AREA WAS RIGHT NEXT TO A LARGE, OPEN DOOR THAT LEAD INTO THE GYM ITSELF.  I WAS IN THE WARM UP AREA WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL CAUGHT MY EYE.  HE WAS ELDERLY, VERY SLIGHT AND APPEARED TO BE, SOMEWHAT, FRAGILE.  HIS OVERALLS COULDN’T HIDE THE FACT THAT HE SEEMED TO BE UNSTEADY ON HIS FEET.  WHEN HE SAW ME LOOK AT HIM WITH A QUESTIONING GLANCE, HE QUICKLY LOOKED AWAY, ATTEMPTING TO BREAK EYE CONTACT.  MY ‘SPIDEY SENSE’ IMMEDIATELY KICKED IN. WHAT COULD THIS OLD TIMER BE DOING HERE?  WAS HE LOST?  WAS HE LOOKING TO GRAB SOMETHING FROM THE VARIOUS BAGS LYING AROUND?  HAD HE WANDERED OFF FROM A NURSING HOME??  I DECIDED TO TRACK THOM DOWN AND TELL HIM OF THIS “INTRUDER”!

AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, I WAS DISTRACTED FROM MY HUNT BY SOMETHING OR OTHER AND WHEN I FINALLY FOUND THOM, TO MY UTTER SHOCK, HE WAS WALKING TOWARD ME AND HAD HIS ARM AROUND OUR MYSTERY MAN!  APPROACHING, THOM GUIDED HIS GUEST OVER TO ME AND SAID, “DAVE, I REALLY WANT YOU TO MEET WAYNE SMITH.”  WHAT THE HELL??  THE ELDER STATESMAN OF THE JACKSON WEIGHTLIFTING CLUB STUCK OUT A GRIZZLED AND LEATHERY HAND THAT  I GLADLY TOOK AND FOUND A HAND SHAKE THAT, CERTAINLY, DID NOT BELONG TO A ‘FRAGILE’ INDIVIDUAL.  THIS GUY WAS THE REAL DEAL AND I HAD MISTAKEN HIM FOR SOME TRANSIENT PASSERBY!!  TO SAY I FELT STUPID AND FOOLISH WOULD BE THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR! 

I CAN’T REMEMBER WHAT I SAID TO THIS GENTLEMAN, SOMETHING ABOUT I HAD HEARD OF HIM AND HIS LIFTING AND IT WAS MY PLEASURE TO MEET HIM.  IT MOST CERTAINLY WAS MY PLEASURE… AND EMBARRASSMENT!

THIS SO REMINDS ME OF A STORY I READ YEARS AGO IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. A VENERABLE, OLDER ARM WRESTLER WALKED INTO A GYM WHERE A COMPETITION WAS BEING HELD.  HE WENT RIGHT BY A LARGE, HEAVILY MUSCLED YOUNG MAN THAT WAS TAKING TICKETS AT THE DOOR.  WHEN THE YOUNGER MAN GRABBED THE MAN’S ARM, HE GROWLED, “IT’S TWO BUCKS TO SEE THE SHOW, POPS!!”  TO WHICH THE OLDER GENTLEMEN SIMPLY SAID, “I AM THE SHOW, SONNY!”

MR. WAYNE SMITH COULD HAVE SAID THE SAME THING TO ME………

USAWA Records using the Roman Chair

by Al Myers

Dino Gym member Brian Krenzin is the ONLY LIFTER who has a USAWA record in the Abdominal Raise on the Roman Chair. His record lift of 60 pounds was done at the 2009 Dino Gym Record Day.

Yesterday I described and discussed the Roman Chair.  Today I would like to tell you about the USAWA Records that have been set with the use of a Roman Chair.  As I said yesterday, there are three USAWA Official Lifts that require the use of a Roman Chair in order to do them – the Abdominal Raise on a Roman Chair, the Roman Chair Bench Press, and the Roman Chair Situp.   In looking over the record list on these lifts, it seems that there are alot of “empty spots” in the list.  Most all of the records were set at record day competitions.  Only one meet has contested any of these Roman Chair exercises, and that was the No Weight Dozen held by Bill Clark in 1999 and 2000. Only one woman has EVER peformed a Roman Chair lift, and that is Cindy Garcia at a record day in Clark’s Gym in 1988.    So – at your next record day give one of these Roman Chair lifts a try and join this small group of lifters who have experienced the PAIN of the ROMAN CHAIR!

Overall USAWA Records in the Abdominal Raise on the Roman Chair

DIVISION WT CLASS RECORD LIFTER
Men 125+ 60 Brian Krenzin

Overall USAWA Records in the Roman Chair Bench Press

DIVISION WT CLASS RECORD LIFTER
Women 65 45 Cindy Garcia
Men 70 135 Kyle Achenbach
Men 75 135 John Monk
Men 80 115 James Muzzy
Men 90 75 Denny Habecker
Men 95 100 Lewis Heater
Men 105 210 Steve Schmidt
Men 110 85 Bill Clark
Men 115 200 Al Myers
Men 125+ 250 Dave Beversdorf

Overall USAWA Records in the Roman Chair Situp

DIVISION WT CLASS RECORD LIFTER
Men 75 110 Dennis Mitchell
Men 80 22 Abe Smith
Men 95 100 Lewis Heater
Men 110 738 Howard Prechtel
Men 115 45 Bill Clark
Men 120 1000 Al Myers
Men 125 905 Al Myers
Men 125+ 65 Casey Clark

NOTES:  Wt class is bodyweight class in kilograms. Records are listed in pounds.

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